Spring Tide by Armando De La Torre

Armando De La Torre (and Puppy) in his studio at Space 4 Art | PC Nancee Lewis Photography

A spring tide is a tide just after a new or full moon, when there is the greatest difference between high and low water. It’s also the title of Space 4 Art Resident Artist Armando De La Torre’s project for the City of San Diego’s Park Social initiative at Southcrest Community Park.

The volatility of a spring tide speaks to some of what Armando discovered while researching the area’s history. Once part of Shelltown, named for its oceanfront location, the neighborhood became both landlocked and isolated as the US Navy developed the coastline and construction of multiple freeways guided San Diegans around the locale. In the resulting pocket that eventually became known as Southcrest, little space remained for the community to tell its story to its neighbors and have its unique identity play a role in shaping the identity of its City Council district.

 On July 30th, Armando invites residents of Southcrest to experience and participate in a mini pop-up festival celebrating their neighborhood. “I want people from Southcrest to feel seen and to know that they are an integral part of both City Council District 9 and the broader San Diego community,” Armando said. During Spring Tide, Southcrest Community Park will be alive with poetry, puppetry, and music. Residents will have the opportunity to be audience members, participate in the creative process, and engage with artists and scientists around the topic of local implications of climate change. 

Armando worked closely with Martha Zapata, Director of Community Outreach for District 9 (and beloved Space 4 Art board member), to research the area’s history and choose the location for Spring Tide. Southcrest is a predominantly Latino community, and residents take deep pride in their Chicano identity. In addition to celebrating the strengths and assets of the Southcrest community, Armando hopes Spring Tide will bring attendees from historically greater resourced areas of District 9, like Kensington and, more recently, City Heights. The mini pop-up festival is designed to “highlight the healing of generosity and sustainable environmental practices.” For Armando, greater equity begins with neighboring communities seeing, listening to, and rebuilding relationships with both Southcrest residents and their shared natural resources.

Armando has a long history of engaging the community through his art. His work is influenced by El Teatro Campesino, Bread and Puppet Theatre, pageantry, and observing nature. After extensive experience working as an installation artist, this project felt like the logical and necessary next step in his practice– a large-scale site-specific installation with performative elements. Spring Tide challenged Armando to move into the role of artistic director, and he has spent the past several months engaging a very intentional group of artists. Participating individuals and organizations were selected largely based on their capacity for empathy and ability to connect with residents of the community. The list includes:

Space 4 Art